Switch and switch stand for model railroads



P 1 c. A. ERICKSON 2,522,608

SWITCH AND SWITCH STAND FOR MODEL RAILROADS Filed June 21, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

0155752 A fq/c/rso/v ATTOP/VE'Y Patented Sept. 19, 1950 SWITCH AND SWITCH STAN] D F ORYMODEL- RAJLROAD'S Chester A Erickson" Denver, 0010. Application June: 21, 1948,, Serial No. 34,263

3 Claims; (-01. MB -41:2

This'invention relates to a switch and switchst'and'for model railroads, and has for itsprimcipal object the provision of a neat and highly emcient switch mechanism which will simulate the action of a standard railroad switch, by hairing a switch stand which will rotate 90 so as to give signal indications; and which will efiiciently operate the track switch points.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that the track switch points will be resiliently maintained in snug rail engagement at both positions of the switch.

Other objects and advantages reside in the de-- tail" construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efliciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of, the improved model railroad switch; and

' Fig. 2 is a side view thereof,- looking on 2-2, Fig. 1.

Model railroads are usually built upon a board, bench or table top, or other supporting flat surfaces, such as indicated at I on the drawing. A- road bed strip II is usually secured on the platform l0, and model ties I2 are secured on the bed H. The ties support an outer main rail I3 and an inner main rail I4.

Two movable rail switch points I5 are positioned between the rails I3 and I4 and held in spaced relation by means of a spacer plate I6 soldered or otherwise secured to the points I5, as in the usual model railroad split switch construction.

The improved switch consists of a switch stand H, from which a standard I8 arises carrying a switch target I9 and a model signal lantern 20 provided with colored jewels simulating the red and green signal lenses of a railroad switch stand. The lower extremity of the stand I I is reduced in diameter to form a threaded stud 2|. The stud 2| is inserted in a cylindrical bushing sleeve 22 which is forced into a receiving hole in the platform I0 so as to be rigidly held in place therein.

The threaded extremity of the stud 2| projects downwardly below the bottom of the platform I0 and is provided with two lock nuts 23 and 24 and a spring lever arm 25. The extremity of the spring lever arm 25 is turned downwardly and the line 2 notched to receive one: extremit of a tension spring 26".- The" other extremity of the spring, is secured to a downwardly depending arm 21 on an angle bracket 28. The angle bracket 28 is secured beneath the bottom of the latform It by means of a suitable screw 29; and its vertical arm 21 is notched to properly'position' the spring 26'. thereon.

A handle 30 and an operating lever 3I project radially from the-switch stand IT. The extremity ofthe lever 3| is turned upwardlyso as to project through an elongated. curvedslot 32 in a link member 33. The link member 33 is secured at one extremity, by means of a pivot'rivet 3 4, to a strap 35 which passes beneath the spacer plate I6 and is secured'thereto by means of an attachment screw 36. j

The relation between theposition of the switch stand ll, the length of the'slot32, and the spac ingbetween the switch points l5 and'therails l3 and I4 is such,.that' when the operating lever 3i swings from one extremity of'the slot 32 to a position against the other extremity thereof the switch stand I! will have rotated so as "to place the target I9 and the lantern 20 in-thetwo signal positions; The spring 26"acts to retain the arm 3| against the extremities of the slot 32.

The position of the screw 29 and the switch stand is such that the spring 26 will swing past the dead-center position when the switch stand I! has been rotated 45 so that theremainingtem sion in the spring will serveto snap the arm against the other extremity of the slot 32 so as to'flrmly and resiliently maintain the points I5 against their respective rails I3 and I4.

The strap 35 is of a width to fit closely between two of the ties I2 so as to be guided by the latter transversally of said strap.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A switch for model railroads of the type mounted on a platform, comprising: two outside rails; two switch points arranged to reciprocate between said outside rails; a spacer plate extending between and secured to both switch points; connecting means secured beneath said spacer plate and extending outwardly beyond one of the outer rails; a switch stand positioned alongside said connecting means and extending downwardly through said platform so aszaeos as to project below the latter; an operating lever fixedly secured to and extending radially outward from said switch stand above said platform and through an arcuate, longitudinally positioned slot in said connecting means; a handle fixedly secured to and projecting from said switch stand above said operating lever for manually rotating said stand; a radially extending spring arm afiixed on the lower extremity of said switch stand below said platform so as to swing with the rotation of said stand, said spring arm being positioned substantially in vertical alignment with said op'eratinglever; spring attachment means secured to and beneath said platform on the opposite side of said stand from 4 necting means until said spring has been swung to the opposite side of said stand, at which time said spring will come into action to bring said switch points in resilient engagement with their respective rails.

3. A switch stand for operating model railroad switches of the type having two switch points arranged to reciprocate between two track rails mounted on a platform,-comprising: a switch stand positioned at one side of said rails, said stand being rotatably mounted in an opening in said platform and extending above and below said spring arm; and a tension spring extending ,7 between the free extremity of said spring arm and said attachment means and positioned so as to swing across and beneath said stand when said stand is rotated to resiliently hold said switch points against either outside'rail.

2. A switch for model railroads of the type mounted on a platform, comprising: two outside rails; two switch points arranged to reciprocate between said outside rails; a spacer plate extending between and secured to both switch points; connecting means secured beneath said spaced plate and extending outwardly beyond one of the outer rails; a switch stand positioned alongside said connecting means and extending downwardly through said platform so as to project below the latter; an operating lever fixedly secured to and extending radially outward from said switch stand above said platform and through an arcuate, longitudinally .positioned slot in said connecting means; a handle fixedly secured to and projecting from said switch stand above said operating lever for manually rotating said stand; a radially extending spring arm afiixed on the lower extremity of said switch stand below said platform so as 'to swing with the rotation of said stand, said spring arm being positioned substantially in vertical alignment with said operating lever; spring attachment means secured to and beneath said platform on the opposite side of said stand from said spring arm; and a tension spring extending between the free extremity of said spring arm and said attachment means and positioned so as to swing across and beneath said stand, the length of said slot being sufi-cient to allow said stand and its operating lever to be manually rotated without imparting movement to said conthe'latter;' a link member extending from said switch points to a position alongside said switch stand; anoperating lever secured to and projecting radially from said switch stand to said "link member, there being an elongated slot in said link member at the extremity of said lever;

attaching means on the: extremity of said lever mounting the latter for longitudinal movement in said slot; a radially extending spring arm secured on said switch stand below said platform; a tension spring extending from'the free extremity of said spring arm; a spring bracket secured to the extremity of said spring; means attaching said bracket to the bottom of said platform at a position to cause said spring to: swing back and forth across the axis of said switch stand and below the latter as said stand is rotated, said slot being sufficiently long to allow said stand to be manually rotated through an arc to swing said spring to opposite sides of said stand without imparting movement to said link member, and sufficiently short to allow the spring REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record inlthe file of this patent: 4

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 800,529 Wolf Sept. 26, 1905 1,437,226 Chini Nov. 28, 1922 1,534,303

Cowen Apr. 21, 1925' 

